Davao Oriental’s Hidden Treasures
(written by Jojie Alcantara and published in SunStar Davao, Manila Bulletin, Mabuhay Magazine, and 7107 Islands Magazine)
Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental province, was once a quiet seaside community now laden with beach resorts lining the coconut-filled shores, offering amenities and island tours to islets and secret coves. Skimboarders practically camp by the beach for an adrenalin encounter with the waves of the popular Dahican strip. It has now become a most visited destination three hours away from Davao City.
Dahican beach strip, a stunning coastline of Mati Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
Beyond Mati, however, time seems to stand still (if you disregard the large satellite dishes you see in antique houses along the road). The province still retains its old world charm and quaint setting of untouched and unspoiled nature. Its geographical position (bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the East, Davao Gulf and Celebes Sea in the South) is blessed with a lengthy coastline filled with captivating beach shores, sometimes powdery white, other times basking in multitudes of tiny coral shells. It is marked by breathtaking panoramas of azure skies touching the deep blue Pacific as you wind your way through cemented zigzag roads, colorful coastal villages and forested mangrove areas.
Whitesand Beach Resort, San Ignacio, Manay, Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental is part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor and is cited as among the three “extremely high biodiversity areas” in the Philippines, an area endowed with Mother Nature’s rich natural resources. It possesses best kept secrets in its unique destinations — 10 municipalities and one city– the waterfalls, mangrove, turtle and Philippine Eagle sanctuaries, tribal villages, durian and other fruit farms, hidden lagoons, caves, scenic coastal villages and potential dive spots. Surrounded by Pacific waters, sightings of dugong (sea cow), dolphins and whales abound. Most famous and soon to be a heritage site is the phenomenal pygmy forest Mt. Hamiguitan, situated 5,345 feet above sea level and cradling more than 1,000 hectares of century-old wild bonsai trees and endemic flora and fauna.
Mangrove Sanctuary, Baganga, Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
In a documentation project with the provincial tourism, I excitedly started off with the east coast, and went back to my ancestral roots in San Ignacio, Manay (our clan has a secret beach hideaway recently opened to the public), before moving on to Taragona, Baganga, Caraga, Cateel and the last frontier, Boston (I have finally reached it without a visa!). We stayed overnight in each place and woke up to either a glorious sunrise or lazy rainy weather. Each town opened up to me like a blossoming flower, tentatively unfolding petals to reveal delightful surprises within.
Mangrove Sanctuary, Baganga, Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
Are the flowers ripe for the picking? Yes and no. According to Governor Cora Malanyaon, tourism in the province is still in its infancy stage. She firmly believes a lot of preparation has to be done before any launch begins. Inwardly, I was happy. Goody, I have all these pleasures to myself for now.
Caraga Church in Davao Oriental is the oldest catholic cathedral in Mindanao built in 1884
On the road, each stunning beach front elicited gasps from me. The locals warmly welcomed me, feeding me with lobsters, crabs, shells and shrimps (then apologizing for not having prepared much!!). I was practically swept off my feet in areas I never imagined to have existed in my birthplace. I have returned after several years to see the places still intact — the oldest cathedral in Caraga, and the stunning cascades of Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel. I was asking the driver to stop every now and then so I could compose my shots at a solitary islet, or cove. I joined a group of kids jumping from a high bridge to the river below while hanging perilously to capture their risky dives.
Kids diving in bridge Baganga, Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
I fell in love with the raw and powerful beauty surrounding me. Majestic Toog trees towered over cliffs while the ocean’s mighty waves were crashing into uninhabited islets below us on our way to the last frontier of the province, the remote and beautiful Boston.
Beauty of Boston
Though I’m bursting with pride while telling you to wait until tourism is ready, it is of mixed feelings that only a fellow Dabawenyo can understand. Those in remote areas, though eager to show their tourist attractions, are not yet equipped and ready for such steady invasion. Trainings, orientations, seminars, livelihood and facilities have yet to be properly introduced.
I have jumped from a habal habal to a far-flung house, looking for a toilet, and was hospitably lead to a kitchen, where tiya (elderly woman) pointed to a balde (pail) on the floor and proceeded to cook and converse with me while I sat on the “arinola” (portalet?). A dog lay sleeping beside me while I struggled to empty myself in haste lest it will growl at me. But it was better than out in the wild shrubs.
Mangrove Sanctuary, Baganga, Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
People live simply, without complex business rules. My cousin manages the Whitesand Beach Resort (with a rickety painted sign board near the road that you can’t see if you are speeding fast), and never charges for an entrance fee. Why? She would shrug and say, they always keep coming back and order food, anyway. Loyalty has a better reward from her. Our beach is quite a sight to behold.
San Luis, Caraga, Davao Oriental by Jojie Alcantara
Soon, Davao Oriental will blossom fully, given the right direction and proper time. Balikbayans are very lucky to come home to a more developed hometown. For now, if you are eager to have your own adventures, I suggest you closely coordinate with the provincial tourism office first, for your safety and guidance. Visit www.davaoorientalnow.com and www.mati.gov.ph to learn more about our beloved place.
I share with you a sneak preview of the province, with special thanks to Juancho Serrano, Maritess Arancana, and Ms. Ging Rodriguez of the Tourism Office, Gov. Cora Malanyaon for our stay in her beautiful house in Cateel. Thanks to Arthur Yap, Karen Alcantara, officers in every municipality, and my relatives in San Ignacio who more than welcomed us during our stay. I shall be returning more often.
Click images below to view the large files
Davao Oriental feature article in Manila Bulletin by Jojie Alcantara
Davao Oriental feature article in SunStar Davao
7107 Islands Magazine
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(Jojie Alcantara is a travel photographer and lifestyle columnist in Davao City, who explores off-the-beaten paths that she loves to share through her stories and images. Her articles and photography are featured in publications. View them in www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara and www.dabawenya.me/madventures)
View more of my Davao Oriental images here.
very nice places! but the thing is it was seen greater than expected because of the marvelous shots by Ms. Jojie Alcantara, Davao’s Empress of Art and Photography.
Real Best! ? it..
Thanks so much Maggie!
We really don’t have to look very far to see what a beautiful world it is that we live in.
Peace for Mindanao, NOW!
Real Best! <3 it..
BONGGANG BONGGANG DAVAO ORIENTAL. Thank you Ate Joj for all your efforts in promoting our beloved home province Davao Oriental. We are very proud of you!
Thank you, Olan. I visited your blog as well. Keep on.
Beautiful images, Jojie! I’d love to visit these places some time!
Thank you, Gerry. You will love the adventure.
Jojie dear, you really must bring me to Davao Oriental soon!! Your photos are so enchanting!
Of course. But your roots come from there also!
thanks for the photos mam jojie..im a mandaya also..hehe ang ganda talaga…im proud to be a mandaya..
You are most welcome, Raquel.
madyaway ing pagka kamang mo sang mga view ngadto davao oriental, proud kami sang pag promote mo ng torismo sang kanato lugar.
God Bless
Salamatay gayud!
fantastic..very nice shots!!!
Thank you, Ms. Christie!
u r simply amazing ate jie
Thanks, Che!
Visiting your very interesting blog!
Hope to meet you. I am from Lupon!
Love your photos too… ROY.
http://www.abdul-hakeem.com
Thank you, Roy.
nicely done ate jie
superb. atsuup!
thank you, Yanna!
wow, you have nice pictures…
check out my website for my travel in davao oriental at http://myotherescapades.blogspot.com/
i really love Davao Oriental where i belong !!
a beautiful and a wonderful land i encounter in !!
I Love Mati
oy! kanak yadak-an ini. Mga kanak lumon, take care our province Dvo. Or.
Thanks for featuring our beloved beautiful province…
Most welcome.
ano po ang name sa island sa caraga mati yong may hot spring? waiting for your reply..
It’s Balite Hot Spring. Pero I think they renamed it, I just forgot what it was. I will post photos soon.
jie…try to visit blue bless too…..
Okay, asa na dapit?
Hello…maa’m Jojie. Thank you maa’m for featuring the beautiful White Sand Beach Resort of my hometown San Ignacio, Manay Davao Oriental. God bless you po…more power!
Hi Anna Mae, you are most welcome. I guess you didn’t know. Whitesand Beach Resort belongs to my clan, the Ferrando’s. I am a Ferrando, but among my cousins, I grew up as the city girl. So since childhood, Whitesand was our swimming pool and playground. I wouldn’t really want to write about it had it not been for my cousins who opened it publicly and put up cottages. In support of them, I simply had to share our cherished treasure with everyone.
Here are other published articles I haven’t posted on my blog yet: http://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/image/134939000
I was there last week with my family on vacation.
Ha???Really maa’m Jojie? What a small world po maa’m noh?Related po pala kayo with the Ferrando’s, and marami po akong kakilalang mga Ferrandos maa’m, may mga friends po akong mga Ferrando.Mas lalo po pala akong maging proud nito maa’m ngayong alam ko na galing din sa hometown ko ang family ng isang magaling na writer and photographer na gaya nyo maa’m Jojie,hehehe. Parati din po kami sa whitesand beach maa’m everytime na umouwi kami ng family ko sa San Ignacio, nagbebeach po kami parati dyan, and we were also there last June 4, 2012 lang po…
I’m so honored to know you po maa’m Jojie….
God bless you always po maa’m…
Hehe, sangkatutak kaming Ferrando sa Oriental. My mom is a Ferrando, and her brother owns WhiteSand Beach area, but my uncle died, so it’s my cousins who are managing the place. Yung sa amin naman nasa unahan mga coconut areas and pati banda sa papasok ng tulay. May old house ang Ferrando’s diyan sa tabing dagat, ang tawag ko ay “Bahay ni Lola”. Sa unahan naman yung Sunrise Beach Resort, sa auntie naman ng pinsan ko.
Nandun kami nung last week of May pero sa Mati kami natulog. Yung baby pa ako tinatawid daw namin ang river sa sasakyan kasi wala pang bridge.
Hi Jojie! I came across your beautiful shots of the natural beauty of Davao Oriental — my late father’s beloved province. As a young child, i have often traveled and visited my grandparents then, via pump boat from Lingig, Surigao del Sur, on a 3-hour boat ride amidst the Pacific Ocean! We were residing in Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur then…
I have fond memories of my vacations in Cateel, my late Pa’s hometown… i have always loved the rural and quaint life they had back then… imagine electricity turned off at 8 pm! good thing, we had relatives in the Mayor’s office who extended it a bit longer upon knowing we’re in town hahaha!! My grandparent’s home was right beside the river, on that road sloping down from the main road where the old church was.
Have long heard stories about the beauty and grandeur of Aliwagwag Falls from my father and his relatives but have never seen it in person… i hope someday, i can come back and visit Cateel, via the new road, and see the falls for myself. I was told our clan is somehow related to Gov. Cora Malanyaon…I hope too, to be able to meet her someday… my family is composed of the Agujetas, Cabrera, Toroba clan (and many more i guess) from Cateel and Boston area. And yes, i too have vacationed and stayed with relatives in Boston as a young child. It has been quite a very long time since i have last gone to Davao Oriental since my father died… my Ma is from Negros and we are all now based here in Cebu.
Lastly, i want to say thank you for posting such beautiful reminders of Davao Oriental! Keep up the good work!! God bless~
ps. matigam isab ako magkina-Teel (Davaoeno dialect) hehehe!
You are most welcome, Gigi. You’ll never know, we might bump into each other one day soon and discover we may be even distantly related too.
Thank you for appreciating my little contribution to society. Pag ayo ayo! 
nice3…nindot kau ang kuha…mas ninindot pa gyud tong nakita nko akong lugar natawhan…proud kau ko dah…San Ignacio…ug ngadto sa ubang parte sa Davao Oriental…karong ra gyud nko narealize nga tourism province atong lugar…Good Job Ms. Jojie…More Power and God bless…
Thank you very much. Proud pud ko.